Notes for the next broadcast

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Extremadura.
Like Mother, like Son.

The bambino, Rocco, and St. Joseph

Sitz im leben

Ordinary Time: "Come, follow me."

• Liturgical year.

March 8

• St. John of God (1495-1550); born and died on March 8. What a wild man!
  • Wikipedia.
  • Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God, also known as the Fatebenefratelli, meaning "Do-Good Brothers" in Italian.

March 4

• Prayer from Sirach 36.
• Last Friday before Lent!
• Benedict XVI: Lent, 2011
• Sam's complaint: Not happy that the priest and the host don't know the story of Ruth--that gives Catholics a bad rap. Ruth was not in David's harem. She married Boaz.

From e-mail and Facebook

• Anonymous from Amherst: I have a teenage son who asked "If God is a loving god, why would he allow his martyrs, people who died for him, to die in such barbaric ways, why would he not help them, protect them, save them, or intervene in any way at all, why does god let people die and suffer everyday, even if people can help others...most dont, why doesnt God intervene if he can, wouldnt people be more inspired to work towards something, if that thing worked towards them, if it actually showed itself instead of allowing others to take the fall for God, making clever excuses for him."

February 25

• Buddy from Athol, MA: This is the first time he remembers that for 2 years in a row the Eastern and Western churches will celebrate Easter on the same day...Do you have a comment Father.
• John from Buffalo: Two questions. (1) In Romans 16.22 "I, Tertius, the writer of this letter, send you Christian greetings." Who was this Tertius. Didn't St. Paul write it? (2) Father on your Web site, I saw your table on the number of chapters in certain versions of the bible. I also noticed it on an iPod app too. Why are there differences between what some Christians say are in the Bible? Is it not a bit divisive to have different versions of something that is so important to all Christians?
• The books missing from Protestant Bibles are: Tobit, Judith, Baruch, Wisdom, Sirach, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and parts of Esther and Daniel.
• Bob from Sloan, NY: Did Martin Luther also try to take 4 books out of the NT, which were later put back in?
• Jason from Orlando, FL: If Eve was created w/o sin and Mary was created w/o sin, could Mary have sinned, and what would have happened if she did?
• "Naomi and her family suffered great misfortune in a foreign land. Ruth, a girl from that foreign land, decided to migrate with Naomi to Bethlehem. They arrived in time for the barley harvest."[1]
• Jim from e-mail: This video will fit in with your talking about Hannukah. Watch it. It's excellent.
• Ann from Rochester, NY: Where in the NT is there anything about homosexuality?
• William from Norwood, MA:
  • Once a person confesses on a regular basis, is that the equivalent of "repenting" or is repenting a change in a person's ways
  • When baptized - children of God and going to Heaven - Does that mean they can do anything they want? Wouldn't they then need to be baptized again as an adult?

February 25

• Action item: Remember to tell all screeners to ask people to turn off their radios, whether or not they hear them playing in the background of the call.
• Ask our listeners for suggestions for good Bibles for ages nine to twelve.
• The Catholic Youth Bible (New American Bible, revised; St. Mary's Press.)
• Continue with Verbum Domini? We discussed the first two themes of the apostolic exhortation last week; six more to go.

From e-mail and Facebook

• Adam from Boston: "What's wrong with your WQOM signal this week? Every day about 11 it becomes almost impossible to hear. I'm at work just outside Boston, so distance is not a problem."
• Patricia from Fredonia: "I'm wondering if you saw or read 'The Rite,' and if so, what you thought of it."

Last Week's Show

February 18

• Nora from Williamsville, NY: Our oldest son, James, is making his First Holy Communion in May. We are interested in getting him a Bible, since he is beyond the toddler-type Bible story books we have. Do you have a specific suggestion that would be age-appropriate, maybe something with deeper questions or explanations along with the text? Thank you, and God Bless!
• Buddy from Athol, MA: Do you think there will be reconciliation between the Roman Catholic Church and the Polish National Church
• Jason from Orlando, Fl: Has a female friend who is discerning a vocation to a religious life. What can he do to encourage her to pursue this path?
• Diane from Rochester: Heard a lecture on Genesis - they said that God created more than just Adam and Eve at the same time. Doesn't the Church teach that we are all descendents of Adam & Eve?
• Mary, Boston, MA: Grandson is getting married by a Justice of the Peace. She is concerned: How can she not go to his wedding? Not sure what to do.
• Alice from Batavia, NY: Trying to find a Bible passage: after Jesus rose from the dead, something was said about the "righteous souls following Jesus"
• Frank, Rochester, NY: At school Masses many children are receiving Communion. He does not think that all are Catholic.
• Greg from Buffalo, NY: What happened before hte beginning part of Genesis. specifically about angels. When were they created, how were they created and what was their relationship to God
• Paul from Rochester, NY: When Jesus was on the cross, was he completely naked?
• Ed: Fr. Moleski mentioned Fr. Fernan from LeMoine. Ed was a student of Fr. Fernan's; he graduated in 1959 from LeMoine and was pleased with the nice words Fr. Moleski said about Fr. Fernan.

February 18

• Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time.
• Apologies for being insensitive last Friday when talking with Fran from Rochester when she asked "Why doesn't God protect innocent children?" I was told by a good friend that it seemed cruel to say, "Because it is more fun that way."

Previous Shows

February 16

• Jason from Orlando: via internet.voting 'A' it has helped them.
• Ben from Buffalo, NY: Ben thinks that technology is a distraction in relation to one another, & it takes away from human interaction. Q.When we talk in church about Jesus' 2nd coming what will that look like?
• Cindy from Washington state: I am listening today using my iPad at work, I am thoroughly enjoying your broadcast. Thank you for this ministry - I am sure I will be back to listen again. God bless. BTW, I vote for A - it has helped them!! Between my iPhone & iPad I keep in nearly constant contact with family & friends as well as our RCIA team, Servant School, & the rest of our parish family. I love the new confession app too - I hope to make a good confession using it before Easter. We have a young priest who is tech-saavy so it shouldn't be a problem.
• Ray from California: thinks technology has helped.
• Bill from Scituate, MA: New technology has helped. I have tried to “bear witness to [my] faith through the digital world.” Doing so has helped me to focus my prayer and direct my study. This has strengthened my relationship with God. With five children, three teenagers and two a bit younger, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to keep an eye on their use of new technology. Let’s say they have experienced many opportunities to learn more about the virtues of moderation and prudence. All in all it has been a positive thing for the family.
• Michelle from Alberta,Canada: Michelle finds that modern tech has been rather hurtful, especially when people put things on the net that should be said in confidence or in person. It's a double edge sword.
• Jessica from Village of Lancaster, NY: How can I respond and justify my faith when my born again father in law insists I need to be born again in order to reach salvation and to be a follower of Jesus?
• Ellen from Buffalo: She votes both.
• Fr from Peter Calabrese: Rome, Italy. I vote A. It helps me keep in touch with family that is far away. I have access to great Catholic blogs to help me learn and reinforce my faith and relationship with God and has helped me stay in touch or renew old friendships as well as open the doors for new friendships
• Tommy from Buffalo: technology has help to strengthen his faith with all the resources.
• Chris from Steubenville, OH: I downloaded the new Confession app but I have a complaint about it... I forgot my password already! LOL My fault!

February 11

• Scott from Rochester: Could you describe how to make a good confession? Also, please pray for me and my service coordinator who are having a meeting today.
• Bryan from e-mail: I have my own lectionary for daily mass readings. Sometimes they don't match up. Can you tell me why that might be?
• Pat wants to let Father know that he forgot to tell Scott about the Precepts of the Church.
• Lizette from Facebook: Has the apparition in Garabandal, Spain, been approved by the Church?
  • The official position of the Church is still pending, as Garabandal has neither been positively approved, nor negatively condemned. The Vatican has yet to make a public pronouncement, likely because the Church is awaiting to see if the prophecies will be fulfilled. ((according to garabandalvideos.com))
• Paul from Buffalo: Father do you have any ideas about how to talk to his parish priest about bringing about An Adoration Hour and the Rosary once a month?
• Miraculous Medal - St. Catherine Laboure
• Our Lady of La Salette
• Sal from Medford, MA: He called about three wks. ago about Cursillo and were asked to call back and share his experience. It was wonderful. he wants to share something he learned about doing an examination of conscience too.
• Jason from Orlando, FL: Jason has a Question about these passages 1 Pet. 2:1-17, esp. v. 5. What does it mean? like living stones..
• Adam from Fall River, MA: Wants to comment on the 2 apparitions that they are both not connected.
• Michelle from Buffalo: needs clarification about abstaining or fasting on Fridays.
• Anonymous from BUFFALO: has a long history of over-eating , & one of the 7deadly sins is gluttony and heard Bishop Sheen recommend crouding out the bad habit but needs clarification and suggestions on what to do.
• Russel from Batavia, NY: Q: 1. Does the Anointing of the Sick forgive sins at all?
• Kathryn from East Aurora: "The miraculous medal was given to to Sr. Kathryn LaBouré. She grew up going to the Miraculous Medal Novena at a Parish. Our Lady said that whoever wore it would be taken care of.

February 11

• Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

From e-mail and Facebook

• Marcel from Facebook:
  • Our world has focused attention on feeding flesh without considering the needs of the spirit. I think Jean-Jacques Rousseau was right in his discourse on the Arts and Sciences about the harmful effects of modern civilization. What do you think about his views?
  • Many Catholics have lost regard for confession. What are the possible causes of this?
  • How can we balance the vocation boom in Africa with the dying vocational interest in Europe/ America?
• Dennis Z. from Facebook: Do we have or know where any other important biblical relics are like the Shroud of Turin? I know we have been looking for Noah's ark, and can't find it. Do we know or have the stone tablets with the 10 commandments on them? Or the cross of Jesus? Or maybe the towel that Veronica wiped the face of Jesus with?

Wednesday, February 9

• Paul from Cambridge, MA: Has a prayer request for a big miracle for his father 91, hanging by a thread had a stroke and his mother who's been hanging in right by him.
• Dennis from Buffalo: E. I like sports. I do however find it troublesome, to see people playing a game asking for so much money. I know its hard work. Its a God given talent. But I dont see how a person can ask for and receive so much money, when others have little or no money. I dont know how you can feel good or right with yourself. I know that most of players give back in some way to people less fortunate. I think it's also interesting that we have so much "free" money to throw around into players, when that money could be so much better spent elsewhere, for the good of society and people less fortunate.
• Jason from Florida: via internet. Comment on Poll.Voting A. identifying with atheletes.
• Bob from Boston,NY: Comment on Sports, "an the good race and fought the good fight"
• Bill from Scituate, MA: We enjoy sports in our family. We don't live or die with the team or the athletes. A few years ago we instituted a new family rule when our local football team was winning Super Bowls. No wearing of Pats jerseys at mass on Sunday. I guess we vote A.
• Deb from Wellesly: In thinking of Paul who's father is dying, She wants to make it known that there is a very powerful prayer called the Divine Mercy Chaplet. In the Diary of St.Faustina it says to pray the mercy chaplet at the bed of the dying.
• Jason from Florida: Hey, Father. What about wearing a nice collared shirt with a small, subtle team logo on it to Mass? Yea or nay?
• Fran from Rochester:
  • 1. Why doesn't God protect innocent children?
  • 2. Why have her prayers throughout her life never been answered & she's 83yrs. old.
  • 3. Will the Church ever let priests get married?
• Bill from Boston,MA: Comment on the commercials and their sexual innuendos, and it seems that there's much more aggressiveness and anger in and off of the field in the sports industry today.
• From Jason: Catholic Athletes for Christ.
• Christina from Lockport: She went to Corpus Christi School when she was a little girld and she would hear a litany of the blessed virgin Mary (she remembers it in polish if you could interpret).and would like to find out what it was, if you could help please.
• A litany for The Station of the Cross.

Friday, January 28

• Laura from e-mail: my pentecostal sister and I have a dispute I hope someone can settle. our sister is having great difficulty with quitting smoking. I suggested that we need to let her know that smoking is sinful because it damages the temple of the Holy Spirit( our body). My sister said absolutely not because that would be shaming her ,which is from the devil. She said that only the conviction of the Holy Spirit could help her and that she thinks our sister is under a curse that needs to be broken. But she said that us (or me) telling our sister of the sinfulness of smoking would only shame her into believing that she is unloved by God because of her inability to quit smoking. And that would cause her to turn away from God. What do you recommend?
• Christina from Orchard Park: Just started Bible Study - Little Rock Bible Study - it says that Duay Rheims Bible is inaccurate - Is DR inaccurate, and does Father know anything about that particular Bible Study?
• Buddy, Athol, MA - WQOM, Boston: Do you think there will be reconciliation between Roman Catholic Church and SSPX
• Nora from Williamsville, NY: Hi Fr. Marty and Gina ~ would you please prayr for a friend going through a job search, needed sooner than expected? Thank you, and God Bless!
• Scott from Rochester: Can Father give him a synopsis of today's readings? If mortal sin on soul, is private confession necessary or is general penance service enough?
• Nalida (Nuh-lid-uh) from Boston: Often on EWTN during televised Mass and sometimes at Mass in my parish, some women cover their hair with a veil-like material. I'm wondering why? I'm a convert to Catholicism. I know some Protestants like Pentecostals feel a woman should cover their hair in church. Why do some do it in Catholic churches?
• Brett from Rochester, NY: Asking about intricacies of a Communion Service as opposed to a Mass - Can a lay person read the Gospel and give the Rite of Penance or does it have to be a deacon or priest?
• Susan from W. Roxbury, MA: saw a billboard for radio station 1060 AM - Is there a regular rosary time on the radio. In regards to conversation about literal vs figurative interp. of Bible: She was educated by Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent dePaul and was always told not to attempt to interpret the Bible on own, but always to ask the Holy Spirit to help understand it.
• Jason from Orlando: When we go to Adoration, how much talking vs. listening should we do?
• Joe from Rochester: How does live, pray and stay faithful in a diocese which is filled with the spirit of rebellion and feministic theology
• Ellen from Buffalo: If you go see the Holy Father (audience), you have to have your head covered - called a mantilla or chapel veil - can google it. Good news is that Father does not have to wear one. Blog called the Crestcap - a Catholic Mom with pics of her daughters wearing mantillas - very good links on that blog.
• Alice from Batavia: Comment about mantillas - She remembers when she was in school - the Sister would hand everyone a tissue to put on her head.

January 28

• Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor, and the patron saint of "Faith 'n' Reason Fridays."

From e-mail and Facebook

• John from Cheektowaga (e-mail): I had a follow up question last week on the Luther topic.
  • How can the Protestants justify that ‘revelation’ continued to the 1600’s (presumably to incorporate Luther or others at the time as prophets)?
  • How can Protestants justify dumping 7 books of the bible to fit their needs (why the particular books they discounted)?
  • Finally, when (what date) did the real prophetic revelation end?
• Sam G., a seminarian: "I love listening to 'Calling All Catholics.' Thanks!"
• Marcel Njeze from Facebook:
  • Many Catholics have lost regard for confession. What are the possible causes of this?
  • How can we balance the vocation boom in Africa with the dying vocational interest in Europe/ America?
• Dennis Zeher from Facebook:
  • I know we have the shroud of Turin, although the so-called "experts" try to say its a fake. My question is do we have or know where any other important biblical relics are ? I know we have been looking for Noahs ark, and cant find it. Do we know or have the stone tablets with the 10 commandments on them? Or the cross of Jesus? Or maybe the towel that Veronica wiped the face of Jesus with?
  • As a follow up, I know that we found the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls. Was there any important new discoveries in them? What if we were to find "new inspired" books that date back to the times of Jesus or the Apostles that had a lot of what is already in the Bible, but also would had new events or inspired teachings? Do you think there would ever be "new" books added to the bible or will the bible always be what it is now?

January 25

• Feast of Conversion of St. Paul
• End of Week of Prayer for Christian unity. A good day for me to be less harsh than I was on Friday. :o)
• Debra from Tennessee: Hi Fr Marty and Gina! When praying to and worshipping the Lord are we only supposed to give worship and glory to God the Father, or can we worship and pray to the other Persons of the Trinity?
• Pat from Buffalo: For a person who can not attend mass on obligation days, what benefit does one get by listening to mass on radio or tv? Does it make a difference between radio or media mass? Is there scriptural proof of what will happen in 2012, some say end of the world other say life changes?
• Dennis from Buffalo: Fr I really feel like I am in a rut, with my work life and spiritual life. I want to break old habits and grow closer to God. Maybe to serve him better, what are some steps you can take to grow closer to him, and maybe to follow what he has in mind for me? Any suggestions?
• Bryant: Is masturbation a mortal sin? Any suggestions to maintain purity.
• Teresa, Lancaster: Husband passed away 8 yrs ago. While he was dying she could not pray, but traced the sign of the cross on his forehead. Bothers her that she did pray, wants to know how she can forgive herself for not turning to God?
• Dennis from Buffalo. I saw a show about the Knights Templar, what where they and what happened to them?
• Karl, Maryland: Father mentioned some Monday prayers by a priest whose name I couldn't get. I think they are Marian prayers. I got distracted just as I was thinking of searching for those prayers.
• Dave from Amherst: "What is the Church's teaching about what happens to innocent children who die before they are baptized? It seems impossible that God would deny them eternal happiness--especially all of the children murdered by abortionists."

January 22

• Sarah from Richland, WA: Please pray for my fiance, Juan, who is stationed in NY as a medic in the Army – he recently found out that he has a mass believed to be a tumor in his head. He has been seizing and experiencing excruciating migraines, along with so much more. He is in the hospital at present and it is still unknown if the mass is malignant, due to the dangers (death) of the required tests. He is also experiencing a spiritual battle within himself, searching for answers.
• Jason from Orlando: In a couple of hours, I will be leaving for Washington, DC, where I will be participating in the March for Life on Monday. Could you please pray for everyone participating in the March for Life, the West Coast Walk for Life, and other pro-life events going on all over the country this weekend, and for a greater awareness and respect for the sanctity of life?
• John from Attoeboro, Southern MA:he used to listen to 590 AM & some don't seem too bad, Oliver Cromwell was being praised as a great man a holy man of God, but he knows some of the history of this man and some of the murders that he has had his hand in. John is very glad that CATHOLIC IS ON THE AIR today.
• Christopher from Rochester: Fr. Marty, can you give an educational overview on "separation of church and state". Points that may be of interest:

1) Where it is found in the constitution if at all?

2) How our current political environment sometimes misinterprets it?

3) The original intent of Separation of Church and state by our founding fathers?

4) And finally, how did we go from our founding father's beliefs and interpretation to our current administration's interpretation?

• Bob from Boston, NY: What is the point of the charism to be to speak in tongues?
• Dennis from Buffalo: Did Martin Luther start the Lutheran religion? A friend of mine tried to say he didn't. I thought I read he was a Catholic monk he wasn't happy with the church and he listed his issues with the church and nailed it on a Catholic churches door ...on Oct 31 and I forget the year. And he proceed to form the Lutheran church, which is true if either?
• Dennis from Buffalo: I hear that Mohammad is suppose to be a prophet is he in the bible and was he before or after Jesus?
• Tommy from Buffalo - It is the Roundheads that Fr. Moleski is referring to. - He is correct.

January 21

• Prayer to St. Agnes, virgin and martyr.
• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25).

Theme: "One in the Apostles’ Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread and Prayer" (cf. Acts 2:42).

• March for Life

From e-mail and Facebook

• Christopher J. might send a question about the separation of Church and State.

Last Week's Show

• Carlos from Melrose, MA: Father, as I try to develop a more consistent prayer life, I’m somewhat overwhelmed by all the choices – Vocal Prayers, Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, Christian Meditation, prayers from the Saints, etc. – all of which are highly recommended ...in one way or another. On the other hand, I have only so much time as a husband, father, working professional, catechist, etc., and all of these prayers can take up a lot of time during the day if done correctly. Aside from the Mass, does the Church place more value over one type of prayer over another where I should focus on that type of prayer? How does one balance all their life commitments and prayer without feeling guilty that they may not be giving God enough time?
• Scott from Rochester: Can people pre-select gospel readings for their funeral?
• Scott from Rochester: Today's Gospel talks about how the paralytic's friends cut a hole in the roof and lowered him down to Jesus. How were the roofs made back then? Were they like today's?

Easily accessible?

"Stairs or a wooden ladder led up onto the roof, which was used as an outdoor room that was partly shaded by matting or a tent-like superstructure.

"The inside rooms tended to be small and dark, so the courtyard and the roof were important parts of the house, used for tasks that needed good light - such as spinning and weaving, and food preparation. The flat roof area might also be used for sleeping, or for drying food or textiles (see the story of Rahab the prostitute in Joshua 2:6). In the earlier period of Jewish history, it may also have been used for bathing - Bathsheba was probably bathing herself on the flat roof of her house when she was seen by King David (see the story of this famous act of voyeurism in 2 Samuel 11:2-4)."[2]

Branches? Woven branches and clay?

• "Houses had an even roof made of branches. A ladder was put there to climb up onto the roof."[3]
• "The size of the rooms was limited by the fact that rooms could only be as wide as the beams that supported the roof. Beams, usually wooden, reached from one wall to the other, and were covered with a mixture of woven branches and clay, which was smoothed with a stone roller."[4]
• "Drystone basalt walls would have supported a roof of tree branches covered with straw and earth — a fairly flimsy construction easily breached to lower a paralysed man on a mat, as described in Mark 2:1-12."[5]

Mud and palm branches?

• "Desperate friends tore off the mud-and-palm-leaf roof to lower a paralytic to Jesus' healing and forgiving attention."[6]
• "The excavation concluded that the Church was built over a private home that dated from the early Roman period (63 B.C.--70 A.D.). The home was a cluster of small rooms around a central courtyard. Its walls were of local basalt field stones. Those stones would not have held a solid roof, so its roof was probably like the one at Qatsrin (see below), wood branches or logs with mud--easy for people to rip up and lower someone to Jesus. The place is not very different from other houses of the period."[7]

Stone or clay tiles?

• "A first century home in Palestine had a flat roof composed of large stone tiles which were easy to remove and easy to replace. The tiles were sometimes covered with dirt or sod for insulation purposes. So there was no need to rip up shingles and saw through plywood and beams in order to make a sizable opening in the roof! God is certainly not teaching us from this portion of His Word that it's OK to break the law and destroy property as long as it's for the purpose of getting a person to Christ! The roof was not destroyed or damaged--only temporarily opened up. Remember also that a first century home had an outside staircase up to the flat roof. This enabled the four men to carry their paralytic friend and his bed up to the rooftop without spilling him and without employing an elaborate ladder or block and tackle system! The "bed," of course, was not a heavy inner spring mattress and frame but a lightweight pallet or mattress-like pad. Thus the hole in the roof was not gigantic in size! All of these basic background considerations preserve us from visualizing impossible situations and making wild applications."[8]
• "'Through the tiles': Luke has adapted the story found in Mark to his non-Palestinian audience by changing 'opened up the roof' (Mark 2:4 a reference to Palestinian straw and clay roofs) to through the tiles, a detail that reflects the Hellenistic Greco-Roman house with tiled roof."[9]

• Buddy from Athol (Ath-hall), Ma: Has a comment about the Beatification of JPII
• Jason from Orlando: Good afternoon, Father, Gina, and listeners. Can you please discuss the possibility of people other than the Blessed Virgin Mary having been assumed body and soul into Heaven, and who some of these persons might be?
• Jen from Buffalo: What is the significance of the statement made by the Vatican about Father Baker? What is it really saying/what does it really mean?
• Dennis from Facebook: Father, I hear a lot about spiritual advisors. What are they and where do you get one from?
• Brian from Buffalo: "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matt 16:18) Father, what is the Greek or Hebrew word for 'church' in this verse and what was the understanding of 'church' from the apostles. I know as 21st century Christians we know what 'church' means but what did it mean to the Apostles at the moment this was said?
• Roy from Rochester: Is it possible that Jared Loughner could have been possessed by a demon that may have caused the Arizona shootings?

January 14

• Preface to Fourth Eucharistic Prayer
• This is the beginning of my fourth year as the Friday priest: January 11, 2008, was my first show as the Friday father.
• Scott from Rochester, NY: Can people preselect gospel readings for their funeral?
• Jason from Orlando, FL: The Byzantine Liturgical New Year is Sept. 1. It's based on the Ancient Byzantine secular calendar.
• Carlos on Facebook from Melrose, MA: "Father, as I try to develop a more consistent prayer life, I’m somewhat overwhelmed by all the choices – Vocal Prayers, Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, Christian Meditation, prayers from the Saints, etc., all of which are highly recommended in one way or another. On the other hand, I have only so much time as a husband, father, working professional, catechist, etc., and all of these prayers can take up a lot of time during the day if done correctly. Aside from the Mass, does the Church place more value over one type of prayer over another? Where I should focus on that type of prayer? How does one balance all their life commitments and prayer without feeling guilty that they may not be giving God enough time? Thank you and God bless!"

From e-mail and Facebook

• John Z. from Facebook: What does one's Saint do for him? Maybe he has something to with my interest in the faith? I don't know. I would like to learn more. I hope you can help me.

Last Week's Show

• Christopher W. from e-mail:

1.) Why do bishops sometimes wear a red cassock under their vestments when they celebrate Mass?

• "Cassock".
• "[The cassock is a] floor-length garment worn by clergy. The Roman style has 33 buttons (representing Christ’s 33 years on Earth). It is black for priests, purple for bishops, red for cardinals, white for the pope. The purple cassock for bishops has red cuffs on the sleeves. It is known as the “choir cassock” and may be worn under the alb and on its own for special ceremonies when the bishop is not celebrating mass. Cardinals and bishops also have a 'house cassock' that is black with red or purple piping. The house cassock is worn for non-liturgical occasions."[10]

2.) Is it okay for a priest to tell someone who is struggling with their Catholic faith to take a "break" from practicing their faith?

• Mark C. in Boston from e-mail: Does the Church have any official teaching on piercings, and if so are there any Old Testament antecedents for it?
• Michael from Batavia: His daughter just informed him that she was gay and he would like advice on how to respond.
• John from Olean: Has a question regarding St. Anselm in his treatment on the problem of evil, and how would he view natural disasters in light of that?
• Kathleen from Youngstown: Kathleen is a social worker and finds herself counseling people on the possibly of divorce as a good thing for people who are in negative/abusive marriages. Is that OK?
• Gabriel from East Amherst: What are father's thoughts about eulogies at Catholic funerals?
• Jason from Orlando: Is Confession part of First Friday devotion?
• Desiree from Hemet [Rhymes with Emmet], CA: In the chaplet of St. Michael, she wants to know if the reference to principalities has any relation to the reference in Ephesians.
• Dave from Fairport, NY: A Church in the area took Christ off the Crucifix and they're hanging him from the ceiling. He wants to know if this is legitimate.

January 7

Merry Christmas! It is still the Christmas season until Sunday, the Baptism of the Lord. Today is also Christmas day for many Orthodox Christians (!).

• St. Raymond of Peñafort (~1175-1275).
  • Prepared Decretals of Gregory IX.
  • Revised the Constitutions of the Dominicans.
  • Worked for conversion of Jews and Muslims. Asked Thomas Aquinas to compose Summa contra Gentiles.
  • Patron saint of lawyers, especially canon lawyers.
  • Died on January 6. Feast moved to today to avoid conflict with Epiphany.
• Prayer of St. Dominic.

January 6

Tuesdays and Thursdays: "Passionate Polish Pastoral Apologetics."

• Gina: Discussion of the Twelve Days of Christmas; the difference between the Western feast of Epiphany and the Eastern feast of Theophany (Baptism of the Lord).
• Sal from Medford. He just discovered the station. He's going on a Cursillo retreat and wants to know what father's opinion is about that?
  • Cursillos de Cristiandad: "A short course in Christianity." Begun by Spanish laymen in 1944; first English Cursillo was given in 1961.
• Jason from Orlando on the Internet: he read someplace that in the old days they used to celebrate the nativity, the three kings, and the baptism of Our Lord all in one day. What does father say about that?
• Gary from WQOM, New Bedford, MA.: When a priest is being ordained he receives the gift of the Spirit, so what does a deacon receive?
• Amy from Buffalo: The sign between the initials for the three Kings is not plusses ++ but the sign of Cross.
• Pauline from Tonawanda: Father was talking about the 12 days of christmas as if it is a secular song but actually its history is rooted about a time in the king henry the 8th reign when he outlawed Catholicism. The jesuit priests came up with the words as a sort of code to other believers.
• Lorraine from Westford, MA, WQOM. The bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit, but is it strictly written by males only?
• Eddie from Rochester, 1460AM: Fr. was talking about Matthew's gospel, that there is no trace of the Aramaic original. At a Conference about Origins of the Gospel, they said there was a piece written in Aramaic in the British Museum in London.

The Treasury of Extra Questions

We have had many questions that either come too late in the show or that need research to answer. We often say, "Tune in next week and we'll deal with that in more depth"--but we haven't always kept our promise. The purpose of this page is to make a list of those questions for future reference. If we run low on callers or current questions, we can always dip into this reservoir to keep the conversation going.

Top Five

Verbum Domini

• Apostolic Exhortation by Bendedict XVI (November 2010).

"Where is that in the Bible?"

• Dennis Z. from Facebook: A coworker of mine recently joined a non-demominational church. She lots of questions about the Catholic faith. Her group seems the kind that always asks, "Where does it it say that in the bible?".

When is it right to lie?

• Kevin in Buffalo: "I know the question of lying has sometimes come up on the radio show. May we may lie to a murderer at the door?

"Twelve Baskets, full ..."

Theology Necessary for the Church

• From Kevin in e-mail: An article on the lack of unity in Catholic theology, written by a former Lutheran theologian. "The unity and coherence of theology can be maintained only if we explicitly conceive of it as an ecclesial intellectual practice of the Church, arising from the Church’s nature and mission. ... And so Catholic theology cannot establish itself as a de facto counter-magisterium, remaining in splendid isolation from the Church. Nor should it seek to win a lasting standing in the secular academy that offers it a career path like that of any other academic profession. Nor, finally, will Catholic theology flourish if it is transmuted into 'religious studies' to market its remnants in a post-Christian society. Whatever one thinks about the best way to give coherent and even sophisticated shape to Catholic theology, we must acknowledge that the Church herself gives us our theological task: to assist the bishops in communicating, explaining, defending, and understanding the faith that comes from the apostles."

Children of lesbians in Catholic school?

• Peter from Buffalo: How do you feel about the Catholic school that allowed the child of two lesbians to enroll in it?

Catechetics in the Modern World

• Awesome Lawson from Town of Tonawanda: As someone who works directly with College students, what advice could you give someone who is going to teach religion classes to high school students? What areas of catechesis/evangelization do you see most lacking in college students that should be addressed in high school?

Priestly Celibacy

• Dawn from e-mail: Our family went to a Mass on Sunday in which the priest gave his personal opinion from the pulpit regarding celibacy, "The Church needs to change!"...he charged.

Liberation Theology

• N.W. from e-mail: Could you please comment on the Gamaliel Foundation, Liberation Theology, Saul Alinsky and "Rules for Radicals" dedicated to Lucifer. Voice Buffalo is a local, faith based community affiliate of the Gamaliel Foundation. It seems at times that the Gamaliel Foundation and Voice Buffalo are in direct conflict with Church teaching. Please note that a Catholic Priest and a Catholic Charities Executive are in Voice Buffalo leadership positions.
  • "Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: from all our legends, mythology, and history... the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom--Lucifer" ("Rules for Radicals").
  • Some reflections on Liberation Theology.
  • Obama's radical roots in ACORN and Gamaliel.

Catholicism and other religions

• John Z. from Facebook: "If the messages is to go out and teach all nations and baptize them, isn't the ultimate goal of the Gospel to teach all about Christ? So in our tolerance of other religions and faiths, we still try to teach Christ? Isn't the ultimate end, to have all believe in Jesus? I know it is only by God's doing that this would happen not by us. Yet in the Gospel Jesus commissions the disciples to do that. I guess its like on one hand are faith says go out teach people, but don't teach people out of respect for their beliefs . It is like relativism has found its way in. I understand that it is love to be tolerant, but even in our tolerance, deep down aren't we really trying to get others to see Jesus as Lord and savior?"
  • "If we are, then are we really tolerant?"

Disparity of cult (mixed marriages)

• Anonymous from east of Buffalo: "I have a friend who is a recent convert and she wanted her husband to validate their marriage in the Catholic church and he refused (they were married in a Protestant church). How does the church view this marriage? Is their marriage still adulterous since her intention is good? I would think her role as a spouse is to bring him into the church. She is at the verge of divorce and this almost seems to be her justification for leaving, since their marriage was never valid in the Church anyways. Help! Thanks so much!"

Dealing with a Teenage Daughter's Doubts

Sarajane from Facebook: "I am struggling with my children and their questions about our faith. My thirteen-year-old daughter is at an 'Mom doesn't know about nothing' stage and is even questioning God's existence. She says, 'Why should I believe what's in the bible when only men wrote it?' I am troubled and become frustrated in my responses. I am diving into my faith to learn learn learn so as to become stronger for my own sake and especially that of my children. Do you have any advice on materials, responses etc? Thank you! May God bless you and all the listeners! P.S. I listen daily." Sarah.

No Room for Resentments

John Carlin, 1998.
Used by permission.

John from Cheektowaga

John sent me a picture he painted of two of his dogs acting as guardians at the 12th gate of Heaven. That got me thinking about who the real obstacles are to our entry into Heaven: everyone whom we refuse to forgive. The same issue came up in last Sunday's readings about the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Sons.

Mary and the Gospel of John

Dennis from Facebook

Dennis noted how the four gospels are different from each other and wondered whether there might be a Marian influence in the gospel of John.

Consolation and Desolation

• Zvoncica Z. from Facebook: "I wonder what to do in those moments of darkness when prayers don't help and everything goes wrong no matter how hard you try. You feel separated from God as if He didn't care. You need Him and He doesn't reply. I'm so desperate ..."
  • Notes on Consolation and Desolation.

Conditions of a Valid Marriage

• Mary from Rochester (two weeks ago)): Wants to know if a couple that's living together, contracepting, etc, then wind up getting married with no intention of ceasing the contraception have a valid marriage.
• See Canon law, especially canon 1061 and canon 1101.

Exegesis

• What do you think of the claim that dogma is more certain than Scripture study?
  • Exegesis

Catholicism and Science

Natural Theology

• From Christopher J. on Facebook: "Pope Says God Behind Theories Like Big Bang": "Contemplating (the universe), we are invited to read something profound into it: the wisdom of the creator, the inexhaustible creativity of God," he said in a sermon to some 10,000 people in St Peter's Basilica on the Feast of Epiphany.

Evolution

Monogenism

Kevin from Buffalo: What are your thoughts on this article, particularly the points about monogenism?

• It dogmatizes science and relativizes dogma:

"Subsequent research into genomics, however, has settled this question against Pius. It's not that scientists cannot trace human ancestry back far enough to an Adam and Eve; it's that in principle, the level of genetic variation present in the species today rules out a founding population with fewer than several thousand individuals."

Where did that "founding population" come from? A miracle of mass mutation?

Church and state in Heaven

• John Z. from Facebook: "I wondered if there will be a separation of church and state in heaven? Will there be church in heaven? Will there be state in heaven? If we are to spread the good news and teach all nations, in the perfect Kingdom would you say there wouldn't be a separation? It seems through out the churches history there has been trouble when the church and state were together. Yet in the perfect kingdom, as in heaven, wouldn't there be no need for either church or state?"

The New Atheists Go Overboard

Kevin from Buffalo

I thought you might appreciate these articles by Brendan O'Neill, an atheist humanist and editor of Spiked:

• "Turning the pope into an Antichrist for atheists."
• "How the New Atheists are abusing the truth."

Eucharistic Desecration Videos

• Kevin from Buffalo: I thought you might be interested in this petition to ask YouTube to remove eucharist desecration videos.

Medical Ethics

• Jack T. from e-mail: "Fr. Marty, I was reading the most recent TIME magazine last night, and there was a short article about some 'breakthrough success' in fertility. It is amazing how the language totally denies the humanity of embryos."

Pitch for the Magnificat

• Matt from Colorado (e-mail): "I love the show on podcast and also the Magnificat. I got a subscription to it and go through the Mass readings and prayers within it daily. I love it and hope you can pass along all about it to your listeners. If I won the lottery, I would buy a subscription for everyone I know and donate more subscriptions to churches everywhere. I first picked it up in the Adoration Chapel at my Church. It was laying there and I was really knocked off my feet by it. I ran home and subscribed immediately. I can totally tell the difference in my spirituality and closeness to God. I feel myself really craving getting to the Eucharist as often as I can. Great, great reading and very interesting too. I love the integration of the lives/stories of the Saints and Blesseds. I bought my Mom a subscription too."

On Second Thought

I often think of better answers to questions after the show is over. This is called "l'esprit de l'escalier," (French: "the spirit of the staircase") because lawyers so often think of the best arguments to have made while walking down the staircase leading away from the courthouse.

Catholicism and Judaism

• Sam from Buffalo: "Hi Father. Earlier this week I heard someone talking briefly about Messianic Judaism and Hebrew Christianity. I was wondering if you could tell me anything more about them, and where they 'fit in.' Thanks so much!"
  • Second Exodus website
  • The Christian Deliteralization of the Old Testament
  • Association of Hebrew Catholics

Coping with wayward family members

Cindy from Facebook: One of her daughters has become a Lutheran; the other daughter, who is Catholic, has decided to cut off communication with her Lutheran sister. What can Cindy do to bring her Lutheran daughter back to the Church?

• I've had a lot of experience with the 12-step programs. The first step tells us that we are powerless over other people (see 2 Cor 12:10): "When [I know that] I am weak, then I am strong." Your children have a God and a Savior, and it's not you. You are of course correct that Lutheranism is a sadly diminished form of Catholicism, but if you could nag your daughter into coming home, you would not be talking to me--she would be back already.
• Let go and let God.
• Say the Serenity Prayer.
• Pray to St. Monica (today's saint).
• Pray in reparation for your own sins, then pray in reparation for the sins of your family.
• Pray the Infallible Prayer, "Thy will, not mine, be done."
• Recognize that "unsolicited advice is criticism." If we could nag people into good behavior, we wouldn't need a Savior.
• Pray that God will place someone else in their lives to convert them. Don't doubt God's power to save them, despite the deficiencies of the Lutheran tradition. We are not saved by our Church membership but by the love of God poured into our hearts through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He died to save them; He knows how to save them. Pray with St. Faustina, "Jesus, I trust in you."

What about the prophecies about the Antichrist?

• John from Cheektowaga: "I wished I had stayed on the phone the other day to do a follow-up (I did not want to hog all the air-time). I wasn’t looking for a speculation of WHEN the end time will be – I know our Lord Jesus said that not even the angels or saints know, but only the Father knows the day and the hour."
  • MXM: The advantage of staying on the phone is that you get to rephrase your question as we go along. If we think you're hogging the air, we'll thank you for your call and hang up on you.  :-O
• I was just looking for comment on how really interwoven all of history is (past, present & future); all events detailed in prophesy. I thought that the little book “History of Antichrist” was extremely well presented. It listed each important prophet as indicated in Sacred Scripture, what various interpretations can their words possibly mean, which church fathers, saints, doctorens, traditions, commentators through to the med 1800’s (when the book was written), etc., to include conjectures as to meanings of their statements, and, how it relates to the antichrist. The book is not bad news, but it does say, when the antichrist does come it is going to be a terrible 3 ½ years before Jesus comes and put a stop to his deceit. Many will be swayed – think of the Jews who are still looking for the coming of the Messiah (all part of God’s grand mysterious plan).
  • MXM: The Church is completely agnostic about the sequence of events at the end of the world.

The book of Revelation and other apocalyptic passages were written to comfort people who were suffering for the sake of Jesus. The message is, "Hang on. Your sufferings will be rewarded. You will reign with Jesus in glory." That message was valid in the first century and in every age since wherever disciples suffer for Jesus.

In other words, the material is about the present, NOT the future.

• The world will be tricked unless one's faith is strong.
  • MXM: We don't need "strong" faith. Putting faith in the strength of our faith is a huge mistake. No act of faith is greater than the size of a mustard seed when compared to the glory of the one in whom we place our trust.

Johnny Cash and the End of the World

Kevin in Buffalo: What do you think of the Johnny Cash song, "The Man Comes Around"?

The meaning of fiction

Matt from Colorado asked about (e-mail about The Shack). Second thoughts: interpreting fiction.

Purgatory

• Purgatory